Chapter 20 – Letters

The next couple of days where uneventful for Tacita. The tables in the Great Hall had been replaced by one table so a meal times Tacita sat with Harry and Ron. She had received two catalogues, the first day of the holidays, just as Snape said she would.

An owl landed on Tacita's plate one morning destroying her breakfast, she had got out of the habit of looking. She recognised the eagle owl as Draco's and eagerly took the letter from it's leg.

Tacita

I know I've only been away two days and I'm already writing to you, but I'm so bored. All my Mother wants me to do is go shopping with her, I think if this keeps on going I'm going to have to run away to Hogwarts. Has anything interesting happened a Hogwarts? I wish I was there.

I never realised before I came to Hogwarts how boring the food at home is. But then again Hogwarts food is the best.. Are you looking forward to Christmas? I know I am.

I've got you a brilliant present I wish I was going to be there to see you open it, I'll send it on Christmas day. How is having the common room all to yourself? I think it would be really cool. Anyway, I've got to go now. Hope to see you Soon

Draco

Tacita smiled at the letter, when she looked up she saw that the owl was gone. Harry was watching her.

"That from Malfoy?" Harry asked, indicating to the letter.

"Yeah, I'm going to go reply I'll see you later." Tacita got up and left.

Tacita went down to the dungeon to write her letter.

Draco

It was great to hear from you. Not much is going on at Hogwarts, I mean how much can happen in Hogwarts in 2 days ? That's a rhetorical question of course. What's this about Hogwarts food being the best . No way I'm sure there's better food out there. You have a present for me I will have to get you a present I got some catalogues today .

Your owl destroyed my breakfast , there I was minding my own business when an owl lands on my plate. Don't worry though, I forgive you. Having the common room to myself is pretty cool, Snape said I could let people from other houses come here he even changed the password for the holidays.

I'm kind of looking forward to Christmas, Harry, Ron and I are going to have a party in the common room. I wish you, Faith and Jason were here. Thanks for writing.

Tacita

Tacita re-read the letter then browsed through her catalogues. She found in the instructions that if she thought about something specific it flipped to the page number.

The catalogues' were extremely thick, it was about 5 times the thickness of an Argos catalogue. But they were surprisingly light, Tacita guessed a feather light charm had been placed on them.

Tacita decided to go up to the owlery now. As she entered she had to stop and catch her breath, The walk from the dungeons to the owlery was an exhausting one. Tacita was surprised to find Snape there. He had just finished securing a piece of paper to as owl.

As the owl flew of he noticed her. "Miss Riddle." He greeted.

"Hello sir." Tacita smiled as she looked for Shadow. Spotting him she called him down. "Was that your owl sir?" She asked suddenly as Snape did not appear to be leaving she decided to try to make conversation.

"No, I do not own an owl," Snape told her. "I have seen that owl around here often." He indicated to Shadow

"This is Shadow he's my owl." Tacita informed him as she tied the letter to his leg.

"Indeed." Tacita watched as Shadow flew off.

"I must return to my office, I have work to do." Snape stated suddenly. And went to leave Tacita followed him, He glanced at her questionably .

" I'm going back to the common room ." She explained, He nodded and slowed his pace.

" Sir," Tacita said, Snape glanced at her to show he was listening "I was in the library and I read in a Potions book that you couldn't mix Dragon Talons and Phoenix Tears if you have used Boomslang Skin in the Potion, and I was wondering how Boomslang skin affected it." Snape stopped.

"I don't know why you are reading such a high level book Miss Riddle, it would take me awhile to explain as this is fourth year potions."

"Will you explain please sir?" Tacita asked hopefully. Snape nodded, come to my office and I will explain.

Tacita followed Snape to his office and he explained to her fourth year potions, It was fascinating, when Tacita read the books in the Library she sometime struggled to understand what they were talking about but with a teacher it was much easier.

Snape was impressed he had never had a student that had the initiative to actually read more than the required books of his subject. He found it was refreshing to have a student actually interested in potions.

Snape checked the time when Tacita stifled a yawn It was half one in the morning. They had talked about potions all day stopping briefly for lunch and dinner in his office. "Perhaps it is time to stop for the day." Snape stated. Tacita opened her mouth to protest but when only another yawn came out agreed. Snape smirked at this.

"As it is past curfew I will walk you back to your common room."

"Yes sir." Tacita looked at her watch and gasped.

"Stone Entrance." Snape said as the neared the common room .

"Thank you sir." Tacita smiled. Snape nodded.

"Go to bed Tacita." Tacita was so tired she did not notice the use of her first name.

"Yes sir Good night." She enter the common room and headed to her dormitory.

"Good night Tacita." Snape murmured, before strolling off.

Tacita woke late the next morning. When she checked the time she was astonished to find that it was ten. Tacita remembered the last night and smiled she wanted to learn some more about potions. She decided not to bother Snape.

She hadn't seen Harry since breakfast yesterday, he was probably wondering where she was. She got dressed quickly and went to the Gryffindor tower. As she approached the Fat Lady.

She muttered the password and entered as the portrait swung open.

Tacita looked around the common room but couldn't see Harry or Ron. A Gryffindor 7th year looked up at her

" Hey how'd you get out password?" He asked glaring at her.

"What do you want?" Asked another Gryffindor. Most of the Gryffindors glared at her.

"Erm I was wondering if I could find Harry and Ron here but as I can see…." She broke off and shrugged. A red haired boy with glasses and a prefect badge spoke up.

"My brother is in the Library with Harry," he told her. " It's good my brother is taking his studies seriously."

"Err, Ok, thanks, I'll just … go the Library then." Tacita backed out of the Gryffindor common room.

Tacita took a deep breath she didn't like talking to Gryffindors that weren't Harry, Ron and Hermione. They made it obvious they didn't like her, they were worse than Ron!

As Tacita entered the Library she didn't spot her friends anywhere. She was about to leave when she heard a muffled whisper. She followed the sound and found Harry and Ron.

"One of these books has got to have something to do with Nicholas Flammel." Rom wined.

"I still think that this would be faster if we got Tacita in on it." Tacita hid behind the bookshelves and listened in.

"But if the Slytherin knows, Snape will know we're on to him."

" I bet if we asked her not to tell him…"

"She's always defending Snape, she could even be in on it."

"Somehow I doubt that Ron." Harry said exasperated.

Tacita sighed they obviously didn't want to include her in this little thing. Tacita returned to the dungeons. She wondered who Nicholas Flammel was. She decided that as it was now lunch time to go and get some lunch maybe she could catch Harry there and talk to him.

As she entered the great hall she noticed that many of the Gryffindors were already there but Harry and Ron were not, she sighed and sat down. As she was pouring some pumpkin juice Harry and Ron entered.

"Harry, Ron," Tacita called. Harry grinned and sat next to her while Ron glared at her "I was looking for you."

"Were you?" Harry said.

"Yeah, you weren't in the common room and I didn't see you in the library where were you?" Tacita noticed that Ron looked triumphant when she said she didn't see them in the library and had to stifle a giggle.

"Well we were in the library, Riddle."

"Oh, I didn't see you," she smiled at Ron "you know you can call me Tacita."

"Lets go to your common room after lunch, then we can hang out." Tacita nodded at Harry. When they got the common room they played wizard chess, Harry had never played chess before so lost to both Tacita and Ron. Ron was amazing he beat the both.

As the days passed Tacita was getting more and more curious as to who this Nicholas Flammel was. She had taken to spying on Harry and Ron and was getting quite good at it.

At breakfast she was pleased to get 3 owls. She open the letters and read them.

Hey Tacita

It's nearly Christmas, I'm really excited. Hope your having a good time hanging out with Potter. No offense, but rather you than me. I wish I was there a Hogwarts with you but I can't say I'm looking foreword to term starting again. All that homework that I'll get *shudder*.

How is it having the common room all to yourself? I bet it's the greatest thing ever! See you when term starts.

Jason

Tacita

Is that your owl? He is so awesome, I don't know why but when my father saw him he almost had a heart attack! It was hilarious, you should've been there.

I wish I could've been there to see my owl land on your breakfast it sounds funny. I bet you've got Potter in the common room, that's fine I guess just tell the house elves to give it an extra cleaning before I return Ok.

I must go now See you when school starts.

Draco

Tacita

First letter I've written to you. Sorry it took me a while. Not much has happened lately, I've just been enjoying my Christmas Holiday. It will be good to see you again. My little brothers being a pain as always. Hope your enjoying your Christmas.

Faith

P.s Lorna says Hi

Tacita put her letters in her pocket and said goodbye to Harry. She went down to the dungeon and wrote each of her Slytherin friends a reply.

When she was done she went up to the owlery. She sent Shadow with Draco's letter and picked out school owls for the rest. Tacita then walked to the library to meet Harry and Ron.